Today we’d like to introduce you to Evan Risher.
Hi Evan, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, in a hardworking household led by my father, who raised me and my siblings on his own. He instilled in us the value of work ethic—reminding us that while others may be more talented, someone outworking you is your choice. That mindset has shaped everything I do, from sports to business, ministry, and family life.
After earning a full basketball scholarship, I gave it up upon accepting Christ, choosing to follow a path of faith. Though I lost my scholarship, two weeks before my junior year, the chancellor of Liberty University offered to cover my remaining tuition after hearing about my decision. That opened the door for me to begin serving in ministry as a youth pastor at Ramp Church International in Virginia, while also working in retail, which helped sharpen my ability to connect with and serve people from all walks of life.
In 2011, I returned to Texas and planted Ramp Church Texas in my father’s living room with just three people. Today, by God’s grace, we’ve grown to over 2,500 members. It’s been a journey of faith, hard work, and service.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Absolutely not. But anything worth having is worth fighting for. It’s definitely not been a smooth journey, honestly, it’s been incredibly challenging. But that’s part of the process, right? Everything worth doing has its ups and downs. However, when you see the impact you’re making in people’s lives and families, even if it’s just one family, that’s what makes all the struggles worth it.
It’s a reminder that I’m operating in my God-given purpose. So, yeah, it’s been tough, far from easy, but looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s all been worth it.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Outside of pastoring the greatest church in the world, Ramp Church Texas, I’ve been blessed to publish two books: “7 Church Leaders You Just Can’t Build With” and “The Shift Leaders Do.” Both focus on secondary leadership and leadership development, and they’ve opened doors for me to travel, teach, and pour into other leaders from various churches and ministries. That’s been one of the most fulfilling parts of what I do.
When it comes to music, I’ve always been a huge fan. And don’t stone me for this, but gospel actually isn’t my favorite genre. I’ve always loved old-school R&B. Music has been my escape. I never planned on becoming a recording artist, but there were seasons, especially during prayer, where I felt like God would literally download lyrics and melodies into my heart. That’s how a lot of my songs were birthed.
I recently released two singles called “Be Free” and “We Always Win”, which are available now on most streaming platforms, and there’s definitely more music coming soon.
In addition to that, I lead a global network of pastors and host Renovate Conferences, where leaders from across the country gather to be sharpened with tools and strategies not just for success in ministry, but also to thrive in the marketplace. That’s been another deeply rewarding space for me.
Lastly, I’m a dog lover at heart. I bred dogs, everything from bullies to French bulldogs, for about eight years. But after the passing of my father, I rehomed all of them so I could give my full attention to the season we were stepping into, especially as we prepared to close on our new church building. It was time for a fresh start and full focus.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love the skyline of downtown Fort Worth. It brings back so many childhood memories. My family is here, my brothers are here, and it’s where I started building. Fort Worth will always hold a special place in my heart.
What really stands out to me is how progressive and business-minded the city is. There’s a strong sense of culture and a real hunger for entrepreneurship, which I’ve always admired.
If I’m being honest, one thing I don’t love is that the city can sometimes have a crab mentality, not always wanting to see others succeed. It’s not that people don’t want you to win; they just don’t want you to win before they do. If I could change anything about Fort Worth, it would be that. I’d love to see a culture where we all genuinely want to see each other be successful, together.
Pricing:
- -Event: Renovate Conference -Dates: October 7-8, 2026 -Location: Arlington, TX -Audience: Builders in ministry and the marketplace -Theme: What you have isn’t broken; it just needs to be renovated -Cost: $75.00 -Registration link:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/renovate-26-for-builders-in-ministry-the-marketplace-tickets-1744049070719?aff=erelexpmlt
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.evanrisher.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edrisher/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/evan.risher.5/
- soundcloud: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/pastor-evan-d-risher/1707214837
- Other: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/renovate-26-for-builders-in-ministry-the-marketplace-tickets-1744049070719?aff=erelexpmlt
